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How to Build a Capsule Wardrobe from Scratch – The Wardrobes, Finished (for now…)

Remind me, when trench coats are back in stores, that we want to revisit these capsule wardrobes and make some additions. If you think of anything else we should address (December holiday attire?), send me a note at theviviennefiles at gmail dot com.

I broke everything out into two pages; I might have been able to fit everything on one page, but we wouldn’t have been able to see anything – the earrings would have been teeny little dots on the page!

And I think the links are working – let me know if you find some that are broken and I’ll look into it…

Just wanted to say I have really enjoyed this series – I like the way you encourage people to assess their own needs and wardrobe gaps whilst ensuring the basics are in place – so many capsules are restricted to set formulas whereas you have created something much more versatile. x

This series has helped me stay on my shopping ban! I have been playing along, creating my own summer wardrobe from what is already in my closet, and have found that I have almost everything I need, and still have plenty of leftover clothes. Identifying the wardrobe holes (like good quality basic shoes) will let me shop better in a few months. So thank you! Next I think I'll start over and do the whole thing with fall in mind. -s

Janice, you are amazing! Your eye for analysis and detail is just fantastic. I know that you are a fan of the color black and it's charms, which is completely understandable. I have been living off a minimalist core black wardrobe for years now and it has been very serviceable and practical. However, I would love to move to a minimal wardrobe that doesn't use black, simply because it will be more flattering to my coloring and true to my style. Here is a link to a fantasy wardrobe that I created using your Starting from Scratch principles: http://www.polyvore.com/fall_capsule_wardrobe/set?id=127740482However, the reality is that I do not have a wardrobe budget to start from scratch, so I will be transitioning piece by piece, probably taking about 5 years. Would you recommend creating a wardrobe that intentionally includes black as one of the neutrals until then? Or create the capsule such as seen above, but keep the black items in the closet until they are worn out? – EP Ranft

I'd migrate the things closest to your face first – any black turtlenecks or tee shirts should be among the first things replaced. The tops you've chosen will go with black skirts or trousers in the interim until you have an opportunity to get them replaced. Check my post from August 29, 2011 for some more of my ideas about how to handle this very difficult but common transition.

Thanks so much, those posts on transitioning palettes were so practical and helpful! I especially liked the suggestion of finding bridge items that pair brown and black together. I have 1 dress already that does that, and I wear it constantly. But I think I'll pick up a silk leopard print scarf for days when I'm just wearing a top and trousers. The summer heat here in southern Germany is really picking up, but I can't wait for the fall lines to come out! -EP Ranft

Hey other readers – check out Amanda's Polyvore – it's beautiful!I'm SO HAPPY that this was useful to you; I work 8 hours a day on this blog so that we can all be a bit happier with our clothes, and more productive and content in our lives!

Janice, thank you so much for your hard work. Fashion and your blog are one of my hobbies. I have a busy life, as most of us do, and work a lot of hours so my daily visits with your are light-hearted fun!

Janice I love your blog and have followed you for several years. This has to be the best series yet! I also love the polyvore links others have posted to see how they can translate your ideas into what works for them and their lifestyles. Yep, I'm gonna try it and I am NOT going to order any more sweaters from Lands End…no matter what colors their new line features! Huge thanks to you and also thanks to the others who have allowed us to take a peek at their interpretations.

I am obsessed with your blog, and your advice. I am clearing my closet to implement your ideas. However, I am stuck (a bit stuck not stock still stuck). I live in the Arizona desert. Temperatures arrive at 100F (41C) in Early May, and go up to 112F (42C) in the "Summer." It remains around 100F until the very end of October. Then, we get weather that I could implement your summer recommendations.Yesterday, I put on a dress, scarf, and necklace. It was too much. I felt suffocated. Slacks are too much. One layer – a dress – is the maximum I can handle, perhaps with a necklace or bracelet. I despair when I see your beautiful boards, they are so sophisticated. Another issue is the amount of wear and tear on clothes here. I have to wash my clothes every time I wear them. And, they fade in the harsh sunlight – just doing normal things, not working outside, just walking around. Cotton and rayon and even silk simply don't last the rigors of the desert.Sometimes I wonder if I can ever be particularly stylish here. I am a winter who loves black, and brights. It is way too hot to do anything but dresses. So, no layering. Should I add pattern to compensate? Do you have any advice on being practical,yet put together?

Great question! I am curious to find out the answer to your question since I live in Arizona too. Untill then, I am going to stick to my lightweight vests and kimonos which add some interest to my everyday look. Stay cool!

I'm interested in this too. I live in Australia, a little bit inland, so it's hot and dry come summer. I too can only wear a simple dress. I choose a cotton shift with no waist as that's too hot. I get so tired of this style of dressing by the end of summer but nothing is cooler or more comfortable. I have found that I feel more smartly dressed in black and navy, with perhaps a brightly coloured bead necklace. Carla Bruno was photographed once in a cute cotton tunic dress and I'm going to see if I can find one like it. I'd love to hear how others cope with continual intense heat.Thank you for a thoughtful blog, Janet. I read it every day.

It seems to me that the tradition for wearing white during hot summer weather goes way back for a good reason. White is much cooler during the heat, and it does not fade! Neither does light khaki/sand/stone. It is perfect for a hot and dusty climate,and equally impervious to fading. I think it may be a lot easier to go with white or light khaki during the hot weather if it works with your colours, which is supposed to be great for "winters", and sand/light stone if that works better for you. White is a perfect backdrop for bright colours and khaki can be as well, as long as you choose the right brights, as Janice has demonstrated . Save black and navy for your winter core colours. I think we need to acknowledge our environment and make choices according to the climate we live in. It is no different for us who live in cold winter climates. We have to accept our climate restrictions and can't wear light colours/suede/high heels in the snow/slush/frost. Incidentally, both cotton and especially linen hold up to very frequent washings. I would suggest hang-to-dry your brights outdoors in the shade.

This has been such a wonderful series, Janice. Thank you so much for all your hard work. I'm thinking about my fall/winter wardrobe and what I'd like to sew and/or purchase. You make it all very doable. Except for the sewing. I just need to get myself in gear.

An astonishing series, Janice, and astonishingly helpful. I can not believe the time and thought you have given to this blog in general–but especially this week. Please be kind to yourself and take a little vacation time off from your labors on behalf of the closets of the world!

I have been following your blog for a while Janice and have found so many good ideas and tips.This last series of posts have been amazing and incredibly useful. I am the woman who lives on a narrowboat on the canals in the Uk and have 1 drawer and a small cupboard for clothes storage, so some of my clothes stay in store,winter and then summer. I am retired now so still have remnants of working clothes which are ok but need to pull together a series of clusters which work together. I have bought all sorts of colours but wear a lot of black and white ( as a winter, they are really good on me) and a plus size so I tend to buy things from a couple of catalogues in the UK. I also love turquoise and have teal for the winter, but then bought some pink and purple and burgundy and am finding it hard to put these together, so I am going to start from scratch with your plan and see where I get to!! Many thanks for all the hard work you do to give us these fab plans that we can then adapt to suit our own needs.

This series has been a huge help and inspiration for helping me actually plan what I'm going to be shopping/sewing/wearing, so thank you for your hard work and attention to detail.

It also got me thinking about how I store my clothes so I can see what I have and pull out an outfit without a lot of rummaging. At the moment I have drawers of tops, sweaters, trousers that don't get worn because they are hidden at the bottom of a load of other stuff. I know, I should be more ruthless and clear some of it out, but I'm interested to know if you have a method for organising your wardrobe, and also in what other readers do.

Amazing series! Thank you so much, Janice, for sharing your knowledge and passion. I'm working through the steps on my blog and boy, do I have new appreciation for your effort. It takes forever to find just the right picture.

This has been so fun to watch. I really like the way you built these wardrobes. There are three wardrobes that I like well enough to try to incorporate into my life and current closet. I am still baffled by the denim shirt, though. In all my life I have never owned a denim shirt. Am I missing something? –LindaC

From France in my bad english I want to congratulate you and thank you, Janice, for this big big work. I was waiting every day for the next step, and I was building my own wardrobe with clothes I own before. I just miss a few things. I know now what colors I choosed, so I will dye others clothes (or give them when I will be ready to let go clothes I liked). I read your blog since one year at least and this serie is "épatante", your best one (and the others post were already a great great help for me !!). I hope you will understand my message, I also progress in english thanks to your blog !!!Merci, Janice pour tout ce temps passé !Armelle

I cannot tell you how helpful this entire series has been. I have been confused reading other blogs and your step by step method has made the "capsule" wardrobe idea so clear to me. Thank you so much for all the work you have done on this. Now I know how to begin and where to go from here. I particularly like that you have left open space for individuality to choose the type of clothing best for each one. No hard and fast rules but enough guidelines to be oh so helpful. Blessings. ~Mary

I have a lot of the accessories and clothes from the black/grey/red/blue wardrobe e.g. black and red shoes, red bag etc, except for the bright blue part, which doesn't suit me at all (also the black tops part which is mostly too dark round my face) So my question is what other colour could I substiture instead of the strong blue and still work well with the rest of the wardrobe. Other colours I like and wear are warm pink, coral, orange, teal, aqua/turquoise and pale blue(especially in formal shirting).

This is amazing. I am wardrobe and (especially) accessory impaired. After finally reaching my goal weight I am in dire need of a new work and casual closet. This is a huge help to identify what I really like and what can be mixed and matched (I think I repeat the same exact outfit(s) almost every week. Even before I became overweight I never like clothes shopping, once I put the pounds I the dislike increased. With this concise view of style options, I'm definitely more at ease.

I know this is an older post but it's the best way to build a capsule wardrobe that I've ever seen. I read thru the steps first and can see that I can happily shop my own closet for the majority of it. Thank you so much for this wonderful series that hasn't aged at all!

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The Vivienne Files is a unique personal style blog with carefully-selected capsule wardrobes based on color palettes drawn from works of art, nature, and more. It helps women buy less clothing, and to love what they buy. Read more...

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